Were My Mom’s Nursing Home Injuries Caused by Neglect?

 Posted on April 23, 2025 in Nursing Home Abuse/ Neglect

Placing your mother in a nursing home is a difficult decision, but you may have done so because you were no longer able to provide the care she needed and expected the facility to do a better job. While some patients do receive the proper care, others do not. Abuse and neglect are far too common, and each can lead to various kinds of harm.

Many people who are unable to visit their parents in a long-term care (LTC) facility are shocked by the parents’ condition when they do see them. Sometimes, the patient cannot or will not explain what caused the deterioration. If you suspect that neglect led to your mom’s injuries or illness, call our dedicated Glenview, IL nursing home neglect attorneys right away. We will investigate and help you hold the negligent parties accountable.

How Common Are Nursing Home Care Act Violations?

The Illinois Nursing Home Care Act establishes standards that all LTC facilities are expected to uphold. Every year, the Illinois Department of Public Health’s Bureau of Long-term Care gets around 19,000 calls and investigates over 5,000 complaints about nursing homes in the state. Surveyors also conduct annual licensure inspections and reinspections.

Combined, the Bureau surveys around 10,000 facilities annually. When inspectors find that a facility has violated care standards, they issue fines. Every quarter, a report is made public listing the violators, the nature of the violations, and the fines imposed. You can check these reports to see if your mother’s facility is mentioned.

What Are Common Injuries Caused by Nursing Home Neglect?

According to Statista, there were 60,952 Illinois nursing home residents in 2024. Many of them were harmed due to neglect, which can take many forms. Common injuries include:

• Bedrail injuries
• Bedsores
• Choking
• Dehydration and malnutrition
• Falls and resulting head or brain injuries and fractures, particularly broken hips
• Infections
• Restraint injuries

Abuse is intentional harm, and it can cause severe injuries. Neglect is failing to attend to a patient’s needs adequately. Neglect could be failing to reposition a bedridden patient frequently, not providing enough food or water, failing to keep the facility clean and uncluttered, and long delays in responding to patient requests.

In some cases, a facility does not have enough staff to care for all its patients properly. Lack of proper training and supervision can also lead to neglect. Whatever the reason, if your mother was harmed because of negligent care, you can help her get the compensation she deserves.

How Do I Know If My Mom Is Being Neglected in Her Nursing Home?

Signs that your mother is being neglected include unexplained injuries or illnesses, withdrawal, and an unexplained deterioration of her overall condition. If you live close enough to your mother’s facility, visit her on an irregular schedule and record how you find her. When the staff does not know you are coming, you have a better chance of seeing evidence of neglect. You may also be able to place a video camera in her room, but you must notify the facility that you are doing so.

The best thing you can do for your mom is to call our office. We have handled many cases like yours, so we know how to prove that neglect caused your mother’s harm. A settlement or verdict could provide reimbursement and compensation for various damages, such as medical treatment, ongoing care, and pain and suffering.

Call Our Determined Northbrook, IL Nursing Home Neglect Lawyers

Nursing home neglect is inexcusable, and when it leads to harm, the experienced Cook County, IL personal injury attorneys at Gruzmark Law, Ltd. will fight to maximize your compensation. Call us today at 847-729-7660 or contact us online to schedule your free case review.